A Palestinian originally from Jerusalem, Kaied Hindi bought Court St. Express on March 1. A sign over the door still identifies it under its old name, Court St. Mini Mart.

The store’s videotape of Tuesday’s events shows the man circle the center shelves, walk to a cooler, take out a Gatorade fruit punch and bring it to the counter. He waited behind one customer.

Younis, 25, rang up the man's sale and when the cash drawer opened, the robber pulled a handgun from his waistband. Some customers walked in. A woman and a child fled to the back of the store. Others stood rooted by the doorway.

“Younis said, ‘I can’t give you the money, I work here.’” Hindi said.

The tone of the son’s voice alerted the father that something was wrong. He confronted the robber.

Kaied Hindi said he ran toward the counter. He stopped partway, drew his phone and threatened the robber.

Syracuse police Sgt. Tom Connellan said Wednesday that Hindi had pretended to have the gun to scare off the robber.

Earlier, Hindi had said he actually had a gun. He read a draft of the story in which that was attributed to him and confirmed its accuracy. In later interviews he confirmed he placed a gun in a holster during the episode. Later still, he said he had been misunderstood and that he had misunderstood the article.